Lumber-separating strip.



No. 658,9I 3. Patented Oct. 2, I900. 6. "A88.

LUMBER SEPARATING STRiP.

(Application filed. July 28, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT QFFrCE,

CAESAR HASS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND;

LUMBER-SEPARATING STRIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,913, dated October 2, 1906.

Application filed July 28, 1900. Serial No. 25,083. IND model.)

To all whom it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, CAESAR HASS, acitizen of the United States, residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lum her-Separating Strips, of which the following is a specification.

Lumber is usually dried in the kiln onwhat is known as the progressive system, and as now usually practiced in accordance therewith the currents of hot-air pass transversely through the piles of lumber in each chamber of the kiln, which necessitates that the same be kept practically filled to an extent which a mill cannot keep up, as a mill very seldom has on hand sufficient lumber of the same approximate thickness to fill a chamber of the kiln and lumber of greatly-varying thicknesses cannot be properly dried in the same drying chamber. In working on the progressive system a pile which is dry is removed from one end of the kiln and a pile of green lumber is placed into the other end, the various piles in the kiln being in various stages of desiccation and being successively removed.

According to my invention lumber is also dried on the progressive system, but the currents of dry hot air are caused to, pass longitudinally through the piles, which permit-s the use of a much narrower drying-chamber than heretofore fora less quantity of lumber which will fill the chamber and makes it possible for mills to more generally practice the said system, as the drying-chamber can then be kept filled at all times practically with lumber of the same approximate thickness.

The present invention to these ends resides in the lumber -strips which are placed between the courses of lumber for separating the same and permitting the free access of the drying-air thereto, said strips being so constructed that a single piece of lumber will always have a sufficient support at the point of intersection of each lumber-strip therewith, thus avoiding danger of warping.

The invention consists of a lumber-separating strip, which comprises a suitable bodystrip or bar of suitable material and a plurality of tongues or blocks thereon, said parts being so proportioned as to provide suitable rating strips thereto.

the lumber in dotted lines.

air-channels between said tongues or blocks, all as will be hereinafter fully described and then claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lumber pile, showing the application of myimproved lumber-sepa- Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of my strip, showing Fig. 3 is a rear or edge view of the strip, and Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the tongues.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the body-strip-or bar, and B the tongues or blocks of my lumber-separating strip. The strip A is preferably of metal to secure strength and durability, and the tongues or blocks B are of wood, the same being preferably cut or notched by a saw to form a kerf b in each, so that they may receive the thin metallic or other body-strip A, said tongues being so trimmed and set on the latter as that they will extend therefrom preferably at an angle of forty-five degrees. The tongues or blocks are adjusted at the same distance apart and are then secured to strip A by means of suitable fastening-pins, rivets, or bolts 0, the ends of which are countersunk in the tongues, so that no metal will be in contact with the lumber and hence discolor it. When the parts are properly connected, the tongues all lie substantially parallel and the outer end of each lies in approximately the same transverse line as. the inner end of the next one, toward which it slants. The opposite surfaces of each of the tongues or blocks are flush with the corresponding surfaces of the other tongues, and the consequence is that the structure is in the nature of a board with perforations, but presents a minimum contact surface,

while at the same time it assures that each piece of lumber will have a point of support where it crosses a lumber-stick.

In use a number of my improved lumberseparating strips are placed transversely between each course of lumber so that one strip will be a few feet distant from its neighbor.

The comparative thinness of the metallic body-strips A permits the free circulation of hot dry air, 'and the arrangement of the tongues or blocks B causes the same to flow longitudinally through the pile of lumber.

In Fig. l the pile is shown as composed of wide pieces of lumber; but one point of the invention will be more clear by referring to Fig. 2, in which, by dotted lines, narrow pieces of lumber are shown as resting on the lumberseparating strip. These pieces are narrower than the space between the tongues, and if all the tongues extended at right angles it is plain that unless extra care be taken each piece of lumber would not have a support where it crosses one of the sepaiating-strips. This would result in the lumber warping at the point where it should have a support. By arranging the tongues at an angle of, say,

forty-live degrees every piece of lumber will have a support on one or the other of the tongues and the danger of warping is thereby avoided. It is evident that a plurality instead of one connecting body-strip may be used.

My improved lumber-separating strip overcomes the obstacle in the way of lumbermills in properly drying the usual ready supply of lumber of an approximate thickness on the progressive system. The strips may also be used in the yard, but for that purpose they are comparatively expensive. For a lumberdrying kiln the strips are not costly, as they can be often rehandled, being durable and so bstantial.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A lu mber-separating strip, consisting of a body strip or bar provided with tongues or blocks,the said parts being combined and constructed to provide transverse air-circulating spaces, substantially as set forth.

2. A lumber-separating strip, consisting of a thin body-strip and tongues or blocks extending therefrom, substantially as set forth.

3. A lumber-separating strip, consisting of a body strip or bar provided with tongues or blocks which extend therefrom at acute angles, the said parts being combined and constructed to provide transverse air-circulating spaces, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CAESAR HASS.

Witnesses:

GEO. L. WHEELOOK, PAUL GoEPEL. 

